eating with them and forming a relationship with them can be fatal for your faith. It will lead to destruction in this world and the Hereafter.

Therefore, in order to protect your Iman, adopt good company. Associating with people who fear Allah is imperative. It is unfortunate that there are many foolish Muslims who associate with evil friends, spend hours in conversation with them and carry out immoral acts. The evil effects of bad company have enveloped them, such that it has made them heedless of Allah’s remembrance. They have become lazy in their worship but they have no remorse; they spend hours in useless conversation but they have no concern; they spend hours discussing useless and obscene things, and sometimes, make statements of disbelief and destroy their Iman, but they are oblivious to this.

Remember! Adopting bad company is harmful for us in this world and the Hereafter because bad company can sometimes destroy a person’s faith. People tend to fear dangerous and poisonous animals and insects as they will cause harm to them, but they do not protect themselves from company that can destroy their faith.

Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: Stay away from evil company as much as possible, for it destroys your religion and your worldly life, and adopt good company as it benefits both one’s religion and worldly life. The company of a snake will cost you your life, and associating with an evil friend will destroy your Iman.^[1]

How does evil company destroy one’s Iman? Listen to this account and take heed from it:

Evil Company causes the Destruction of Iman

Sayyiduna Allamah Muhammad bin Ahmad Zahabi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: There was a man who would remain in the company of alcoholics.